Sent off at 16-1 in a field that included Kentucky Derby contender Birdstone, Sinister G is trained by New York-based John Toscano Jr. The three-year-old son of Matty G is partially owned by Toscano’s sons Robert and John III. A third son, Paul, is the jockey who inched Sinister G from the outside post to the lead and the 1 1/2-length victory. Final time for the 1 1/8 miles over the fast track was 1:50.71.

Birdstone, who started from the rail under Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, never reached striking distance and finished fifth as the 3-5 favorite. Tricky Taboo, the third-longest shot in the field at 54-1, made a bold rally for second under Tony D’ Amico. Little Matth Man, Pablo Fragoso up, finished third at 10-1. The three long shots combined for a $2 Trifecta payoff of $14,811.60. Local favorite Silver Minister, who won all three Turfway prep races, showed early speed and finished last in a disappointing effort.

The 2004 Lane’s End marks the third time in four years that a New York-based horse has won the race. New York Hero won last year’s running and Balto Star cruised to a wire-to-wire score in 2001. Sinister G and Little Matth Man were the only two runners in the field not nominated to the 2004 Triple Crown, but each can still be supplemented to the series. For now, the Toscano family is just happy to celebrate before heading back to the Big Apple.

Paul Toscano had a better view of what was taking place on the track than his brothers or father. “When he broke on top it was kind of a surprise,” said the winning jockey. “He did it so easily that I was happy. I just kept waiting and waiting for the other horses and when they came to me, he just took off.”

Sinister G earned $300,000 for his Lane’s End victory after entering the race with an $80,416 bankroll from seven lifetime starts. John Toscano Jr. mentioned either Keeneland’s Blue Grass Stakes or the Wood Memorial in New York as the colt’s next race.

Four other stakes races were offered on Lane’s End Day, most notably the $100,000 Rushaway Stakes and the $150,000 Bourbonette Breeders’ Cup. The upset of the day came in the Rushaway, a 1 1/16 mile test for three-year-olds. Brass Hat, 38-1, started the family theme of the day by storming from off the pace to win.

Ridden by Jason Lumpkins, Brass Hat is owned and was bred by Fred Bradley and is trained by Fred’s son William “Buff” Bradley.

The day wasn’t all bad for Jerry Bailey. The jockey had only to hold on to guide heavily favored Class Above to win the Bourbonette Stakes. Trained by Bob Baffert, Class Above is now a perfect two for two at Turfway Park after winning last year’s Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies by 16 lengths. The Nick Zito-trained Glorious Miss upset multiple stakes winner Ebony Breeze in the $50,000 Queen Stakes. Chicago invader Marley’s Revenge won his third consecutive race by scoring a narrow victory in the $50,000 Hansel Stakes.

Despite overcast skies, Turfway Park posted a slight increase in attendance and total wagering from 2003. On-track attendance was 20,934.